Related Content

Other Resources

There are a very large number of organizations and websites dedicated to ALS. This is only a partial list.
The ALS Association: Established in 1985, The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig’s Disease on every front.

ALS Care: ALS CARE is committed to providing support to patients, their families, and caregivers by means of education and consultations.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): The mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is to reduce the burden of neurological disease - a burden borne by every age group, by every segment of society, by people all over the world.

Episode number:

909

Topics:

(Source: NINDS / NIH) Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a rapidly progressive, invariably fatal neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. The disease belongs to a group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases, which are characterized by the gradual degeneration and death of motor neurons.

Syptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

ALS causes weakness with a wide range of disabilities. Eventually, all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and patients lose their strength and the ability to move their arms, legs, and body. When muscles in the diaphragm and chest wall fail, patients lose the ability to breathe without ventilatory support.

The onset of ALS may be so subtle that the symptoms are frequently overlooked. The earliest symptoms may include twitching, cramping, or stiffness of muscles; muscle weakness affecting an arm or a leg; slurred and nasal speech; or difficulty chewing or swallowing. These general complaints then develop into more obvious weakness or atrophy that may cause a physician to suspect ALS.

Diagnosing amyotrohic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

No one test can provide a definitive diagnosis of aymyotrophic lateral sclerosis, although the presence of upper and lower motor neuron signs in a single limb is strongly suggestive. Because of the prognosis carried by this diagnosis and the variety of diseases or disorders that can resemble ALS in the early stages of the disease, patients may wish to obtain a second neurological opinion.

Key Point 1

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, is a progressive neurological disease (it just keeps getting worse). Since there is no definitive test for ALS and the symptims can mimic many other medical conditions, the diagnosis of ALS can be difficult. Getting a second opinion on the diagnosis of a serious disease like ALS can be critical.

Key Point 2

While there is not yet a cure for ALS, there are resources and technologies that can allow people with ALS to live their lives more fully. Symptom management is a major ongoing component of the care of ALS and addressing symptoms as they change can minimize their effects on a person’s function, health, and quality of life

Medline Plus

Medline Description:

Conduct an off-site search for ALS from MedlinePlus. These up-to-date search results are based on search terms specific to Second Opinion Key Points.

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